Inclosed-switch construction



C. D. PLATT.

INCLOSED SWITCH `CONSTRUCTION.

FILED MAR. 12.1921.

Patented nee. ia, i922.

nire s f ai 'gr-i@ CLARENCE D. IPILA'IW,` 0F BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.-

1 INcLosED-swrrorr coNsrit'UcTIoN.

Application filed March 12, 1921. Serial No." 451,844.

operating :handle construction and'method of support.

. It has beencustomary in the past to'form the operating handle and shaft of 'one piece .of metal whichis inserted into bearings in the opposite sides of the box and then bent so as to bring the handle into the .proper position. It is dlffi'cult to perform this operationsatisfactorily and YI thereforesought to so. modify the construction that the operating shaft and handle may be: preformed and then assembled in the box at a minimum expense. A

The drawing shows one form of construction embodying theimprovements of my invention in which the box isof sheet metal and the'handle and vshaft formed of a single rod bent'into the proper shape and then inserted into holes in the opposite sides of the box. The handle sideof the box is specially i shaft shown dotted shaped at the hole therein so as to permit the insertion or threading of the shaft without bending it.

" Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an inclosedf switch box, the cover bein@ shown open and broken away and 'the 'handleand lshaft construction the act of being inserted in place. Figy is an end view of the construction embodying the improvements of my invention with the interiorv switch mechanism' and position. l

Fig. 3 1s an enlarged View of a fragment of the handle side of the boxshowing thel form at the bearing hole.`

Fig. 4L is asectional View lof the saine on the plane of the line t-A'of'lig 3.

The box 5 isv preferably of sheet metal and provided with a cover. Anyl suitableform of switch indicated at 7 maybe employed lwithpmovable contacts such as 8.`

` The shaft or crank construction 9 has bearing portions 10 and 11 which are seated in holes 12 and 13 inthe opposite sid'es of the box. The handle portion 14 is integral with the remain-der of the shaft and crank construction and may 'also be provided with an integral hand piece 15 in its norma-l, operative;

' Adjacent the bearing ho1e'13,'the wall of vthe box is indented at 16 and pressed outward at 17 so as in effect to produce an in clined entrance to accommodate the shaft in Fig. 1.

By this construction it is possible to ac-4 curately preform theshaft with its bearing ends and crank and handle portions and then insert the end 10 through the hole 13 and work the shaft back and forth into its final position as indicated in Fig. 2, the in' serting the end 10 into the hole 12. The

parts may be so proportionedv as to utilize.

" the springiness of the sides ofthe box in the act of assembling.- The hole 13 punched through theside of the box may be somewhatA oval before the grooved portions 16 and-17 are formed so that the resultant hole proand crank inthe act of assembly as indicated A vides asubstantially cylindrical bearing for the part 11 of the .shaft and'handle con struction. -v

The drawing shows the shaft-receiving grooves 16 and 17 disposed' at a substantial angle tothe hole 13, which is desirable when a shaft like that in the drawing is used, but it is understood that these4 shafts may be bentin di'erent ways` and, in some cases, it may be' desirable to change the'angular relations of the grooves accordingly. Although this construction Ais very simple and inexpensive, it satisfactorily solves the problem as herein set forth.

I claim:

` 1. In an inclosed switch construction, 'a-

handle side having an inclined groove to permit angular movement of the handle and shaft in the act of aembling the parts. 2. In an inclosed switch construction, a

box having a bearing holein one wall with o-ppositely disposed inclined grooved portions adjacent thereto, and a preformed shaft and handle construction sup-ported in said hole and'adapted to be inserted and removed through said hole substantially as described,

3. In an inolosed switch construction, a sides thereof, the Wall of said box adjacent 10 boxhaving a hole in one Wall thereof, with oney hole being pressed inward and outward portions on opposite sides of said hole on opposite sides thereof to form an inpressed inward and outward respectif'ely to clined passage and an integral combined 5 form an inclined passage, and a preformed operating shaft and handle supported in shaft and handle construction supported in said holes and insertible and removable 15 said hole.. therefrom. 4. In an inolosed switch constructionJ a y r box having bearing holes 4in the opposite CLARENCE D. PLATT. 

